Duties:

The holder of the position is expected to independently lead a research project on symbiotic interactions in aquatic ecosystems with focus on co-evolving multitrophic host-parasite interactions. The aim is to understand the functional basis of these interactions through comparative transcriptomics analysis, identify the impact of these interactions on the rest of aquatic community, and to explore their potential use as biocontrol agents.

The work includes expert-level practical knowledge in both bioinformatic analysis and advanced molecular and microbiological lab work. This includes metabolic and functional analysis of bacterial, viral, and microeukaryotic communities by combining metagenomics, metatranscriptomics and single cell genomics.

The position will also entail the development and use of cultured model multitrophic systems in the lab for high-resolution interaction analysis. Additional duties include analysis and interpretation of data and presentation of results in scientific publications and to the scientific community, undergraduate and graduate student supervision and mentorship in bioinformatics analysis. It also includes wet lab experiments design, as well as planning and leading field campaigns. Some teaching obligations are also expected.

Required Qualifications:

For the position, the candidate must hold a PhD degree in microbiology, bioinformatics, or another relevant subject and have relevant postdoctoral training.

The candidate must have extensive experience of large-scale integrated multi-omics analyses. The applicant must have extensive practical expert knowledge of genomic, metagenomic, and metatranscriptomic analyses, aquatic field sampling and laboratory sample processing skills for nucleic acid samples.

Expertise in genome assembly and reconstruction (both using Illumine short reads and PacBio long read genome reconstruction for prokaryotes and eukaryotes), genome annotation, and analysis of microbial metabolic traits as well as extraction of information about putative metabolic interactions is required.

The applicant should also have knowledge about experiment design and wet lab expertise relevant for the project and in working with different components of the aquatic microbial food webs.  

The candidate must have practical experience developing laboratory-scale multitrophic microbial model systems. Demonstrated skills in microbial cultivation and taxonomic identification of microbes is thus required for the position. We also request the applicants to have experience studying a wide range of different parasites, including bacteriophages, Chytrids and NCLDV viruses infecting either bacteria or phytoplankton hosts.

Candidates must have great team work skills and be highly proficient in spoken as well as written English.

Desired Qualifications:

Research experience in microbial diversity in a range of different aquatic ecosystems such as freshwaters, brackish ecosystems, oceans, hypersaline, and deep groundwater is considered as a merit.

A successful record of acquiring external research grants as main applicant is also a merit for the position. Experience in leading and engaging in international collaborative research projects are also highly meritorious for the position.

Teaching experience in higher education as well as experience in Master and PhD student mentorship leading up to publications and completion of their degree is a merit. Also, relevant pedagogical and leadership training in supervision and teaching equal to the docent requirements of SLU is a merit.

Additional merits that will be considered in this recruitment include valid description and polyphasic taxonomic classification of cultured prokaryotes and candidate taxa, practical experience in flowcytometry and in using the LIMS system LabCollector and finally outreach and popular science activities for sharing research results with the public.